Ajax Jonsippi Smith Has Arrived

Born December 30, 2010 @ 10:26 PM

Weighing 8 lbs 10.5 oz; 21 1/2 inches long

Isn't he a cutie!! 

We're all glad he is finally here & mother & baby are doing fine.

Congratulations Aaron, Alissa & sister Amelia.

Introducing

Katilena Rose Cushing

Born: 10/16/2010 2:34 AM

Weight: 8 lbs 15.8 ozs

Height: 20.5 inches long

We're sure glad she's finally here.

Trainer in Training?

Becka in the spotlight - the big screen at the Sea World Shamu Show.

Becka & I have been visiting Disneyland & California Adventure for a few days now. I decided that it would be nice to take a day trip to Sea World. We had a great time. And by the way, we were walking to the Shamu Stadium to watch the show & were stopped. Becka was asked if she wanted to be a "Trainer In Training" at the Shamu Show. She got all excited. She only had to say one thing, which was "Shamu". While I read & signed the consent Becka was learning the hand signals to give to Baby Shamu.

Becka & her trainer Robbin.

Baby Shamu is looking right at me.

This will be an experience she will remember for a long time. We had lots of fun at Sea World. She even got brave enough to feed the seals the fish (she actually didn't want to tough the fish).

Where does the time go?

We have had a busy time since the last blog. At the end of June, our dear friends from across the street (The VanBibbers) moved back to Utah after finishing their fellowship program here at DHMC. Kobie & Kale really miss having 5 girls to play with. We wish them the best.

In July, Cassie started having a few complications with her pregnancy. She ended up being admitted (which was suppose to be for 1 week) on July 26th. She really didn't want to stay, so she talked her doctors into letting her go home that Thursday (July 29th). She was very happy to be home until Saturday morning! Chris came & woke Eddie & I up stating that Cassie was having severe pain & he was taking her to the hospital. Of course, Cassie's refusing to go, but after a call to the doctor, she went. She found out that she had a kidney stone. She had to stay there until Sunday afternoon until the pain went away. They told her she probably would not pass the stone until she delivered her baby. But, at her regular appt on Aug 6th, she passed it as she was giving a clean catch. She was so excited. Now, other than the regular pain she has had with this pregnancy all the time, she is doing much better.

This Friday she gets an ultrasound & has a stress test done for her appt, Hopefully we will find out how much she weighs. They are giving her 2 more weeks for the baby to stay put & after that, they are going to be greedy & keep her in as long as they can. Did I mention that her name is going to be Katilena! It kinda had to grow on me, but now that I see how it's spelled - I like it.

Now, on to Alissa. At her ultrasound they told her that it's a 90% chance that she will have a boy. I havent heard of a name yet, but I'll keep you posted. She is doing well. We wish we could get up north more to play with Amelia. She's such a cutie. I'll post pictures when I get some.

As for Eddie & I, we have been busy at work. My department is growing & growing, which generates more paperwork, phone calls, etc. They keep telling me they are trying to get me some help (another full time sec would be great), but I haven't seen it happen yet. There are major changes coming here to DHMC, so I think they are waiting to see how everything pans out. I guess I can be stressed out a little bit longer! Eddie is keeping busy with Morrill Construction. We just hope they can keep him employed until the snow hits.

That's it for now. We love & miss everyone.

Alissa Expecting!

Congratulations to Aaron & Alissa who are expecting their 2nd child on December 27. She will have her ultrasound toward the end of July, so hopefully we can find out what if it's a boy or another little girl.

We'll keep everyone posted.

The ultrasound says . . .

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Cassie's ultrasound was yesterday. She didn't want to know right away what she was having, so the tech told Chris & I that "I didn't see any boy parts!" We didn't tell her until dinner that night. We had blue & pink cupcakes & had everyone pick the color they thought this baby would be. We then had her read the ultrasound report because I knew that she would have a hard time believing what Chris & I told her. (Of course, Grandma knew all along she was going to have a girl.) She was very excited & we are all excited for her.

Congratulations Cassie! We look forward to meeting your daughter.

Another Bundle of Joy:)

Cassie is expecting her 3rd baby on October 18, 2010. Her ultrasound is scheduled for May 24th & hopefully we'll find out whether she's having a GIRL or a BOY. I am hoping for a girl, but Cassie does not want to know. We'll see if she will be able to hold out.

Some other good news about Cassie! She has been promoted to an Admin Supervisor at DHMC in the Department of General Internal Medicine. She's nervous, but we all know she'll do a GREAT job. Her first day on the new job is this Monday, May 17th. She will be supervising approximately 10 secretaries, so her hands will be full. She'll be learning a lot.

Congratulations & Best of Luck, Cassie. I'm here for you if you need me. Remember - there's nothing that you can't learn to do (and master scheduling is one of those things). Your dad & I love you very much.

Mother, I love you!

Mother, I do!

Father in Heaven has sent me to you.

When I am near you

I love to hear you

Singing so softly that you love me to.

Mother, I love you, I love you, I do!

I remember singing this song many times as a young child. I wanted to sing it for you this Mother's Day also. Thanks for being the best MOTHER I could ever ask for & for being one of my best friends.

Last year I got to surprise you by coming home for Mother's Day. A big thanks to Colleen for picking me up at the airport & keeping it a secret.

Although I may be far away, I'm still sending hugs & kisses everytime I think of you.

Just a little bit of news!

It has been awhile since I've taken the time to blog. The last few months have been busy for us. Eddie worked in Arizona from the end of January to the end of March. I'm glad he is finally home. I flew out & drove back with him - WOW - what a way to spend a week off work. I think he got a little spoiled while he was there. He is back to work now & things can finally return to normal.

This is my Easter Cake.

I saw a picture in a magazine of this cake & decided that I should try baking once again. I think I did a pretty good job, & the cake was good too!

We have been having fun getting to know our grandchildren. We see Kobie & Kale all the time & little Amelia as often as we can. It's quite interesting here at our home. For those of you who don't know, Cassie is expecting her 3rd child in October. Everyone, except Cassie, is sure it's going to be a girl. We'll find out, hopefully, the end of May.

Eddie bought me a new Vehicle while he was in Arizona. We now have a 2010 Nissan Armada, & I love it! Kale always wants to ride in Grandma's car because we can play videos. He calls the headphones his "hearlings". This is usually how he ends up, but if we try to take off the headphones he's wide awake. We've learned to just leave him alone. He's a lot quieter that way.

Isn't he adorable?

Work for both of us has been busy. I guess that's good - it keeps us out of trouble. Hopefully I'll be able to fly home in the next few months to spend a little more time. Becka & I need to start our planning :)

Christmas 2009 & (ugh) Snow

This year we got to wake up on Christmas morning with Cassie, Chris, Kobie & Kale. It was fun to have little kids around again. They were surprised about how much was around the tree. When Kale (2 & 1/2 years) walked into the room he said "Oh, for goodness sakes!) Since they have had to sleep on the floor, Santa brought them a set of bunk beds. However, the most fun part of the bunk beds is the "ladder". Imagine that!

We gave Kobie a Bionicle (spelling?) set made by Legos. He loves those things. He can spend quite a while putting them together. We gave Kale a little work bench with tools that make noise. Now he can help Grandpa. He is Grandpa's little helper, as long as he's in a good mood.

Ben & Brittany pleasantly surprised us by coming home for Christmas. It's getting harder & harder for us to get all of them together anymore, so being able to spend time with each one of them was precious. (Cassie & her family is missing in this photo-they needed to go to spend some Christmastime with Chris' family.)

This is looking our our front door. We got most of that snow within the last week. The house you see across the street is the house Eddie & I are trying to buy.

This looking out our back sliding door. Isn't the snow pretty. (I'm sick of it already.) That hill you see is where the kids (big & little) go to sled down. They seem to have a good time, but it's too cold for me. I'll stay inside.

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. We are excited for 2010. Hopefully we'll be able to do everything we want to do. Hope to see everyone soon.

I'm the best?????

I received a GREAT COMPLIMENT this week from my Practice Manager, Koren Fay. She came back from a meeting & told me that it was reported that I was the MOST EFFICIENT SECRETARY in the Department of Medicine. This includes all the clinical departments.

A few months ago, they came to us stating that they wanted to try to be 100% booked for scheduled clinics. This means that when someone cancelled an appointment, you were suppose to try to fill that slot with another patient. Sometimes I take most of the day trying to fill slots that have been cancelled. Koren told me that I was around 4% in not being able to fill the slots. That means that I was 96% able to fill the cancelled patients.

Hopefully this will bring a good raise & a nice bonus early next year.

Just a little note

We want to wish all our family and friends a very Happy Thanksgiving. We love and miss all of you and can't wait to come visit.

I just want to tell my mom and dad how grateful I am to be their daughter. Thanks for all you have done for me. I miss going to the games with you and just going to visit after work each day. I love and miss both of you. Hope to see you soon - if I have my way, January or February.

Thanksgiving Day 2009

Feeling . . .

a little homesick lately. Eddie - when can I make a trip to Arizona???

(Maybe he'll get the hint!?!)

This morning?

I can't believe it's snowing already!

I'm not ready for this.

I'm thinking --- "long winter":( (I need to get some Arizona sunshine!)

He tried, but . . .

Kale just couldn't make it through dinner last night.

Cassie made Shephards Pie (for the first time) last night & did a great job. She said it was actually the first time she had ever made mashed potatoes. Her meal was delicious!!

Thanks Cassie - even though Kale couldn't stay awake.

Showing signs of giving out!

Trying hard to continue eating.

Perked up a little for just a second!

Still trying, but . . . finally

Just couldn't do it!

Up Up & Away!

This is a small glimpse of the neighborhood we live in. We are really enjoying it here & have wonderful neighbors. Eddie & I already knew the people across the street from us, The Van Bibbers (from church). They will be leaving next June/July, as Mike is finishing up his fellowship in Urology. They will be moving back to Utah. We are very grateful to have such wonderful friends & neighbors.

What is everyone looking at? An amazing site. This hot air balloon had just taken of from the field right behind our house & came flying over the neighborhood. They were really low over the roofs of the houses. Eddie ran to get the camera, & we were the only ones that got pictures of this. The kids were excited to have pictures to take to show & tell at school.

I hope to take pictures of the inside of the house soon & post some. I'm just slow. Things have changed for Eddie & I and I just seem to run out of time to get everything done. I promise I'll have pictures soon.

And Colleen, thanks for the pudding. It did make me a little homesick, but I was alright. You brightened my day, that's for sure.

We love & miss everyone.

Our New Home!

at last for the next 9-12 months!

and we're so excited. We are going to rent this lovely 5-bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home in White River Junction, Vermont. And why such a big house, you ask? Eddie & I, along with Cassie, Chris, Kobie & Kale are going to live together for the next little while. Cassie is now working at DHMC in GIM (my old department-and she's doing a great job!) & needs to live closer to work. We are excited to be able to get to know our two grandsons a little better & spend some quality time with their family. Eddie & I know that we will need to make some adjustments, but we feel it is worth it.

We love & miss everyone & now we have plenty of room, so come visit!!!

Kindness begins with . . .

So, Eddie was going to be nice to me today & take me to one of my favorite restaurants in the area. I don't know if I have mentioned this very much, but since there are no good spanish food places around here I love going to Koto's Japanese Steak House. They have wonderful Hibachi meals & they are all YUMMY! Koto's is a little on the expensive side, that's why Eddie does not like to go there very often. Today they sat us at the same table with 3 adults & 3 children. They were somehow all related & of course I have no trouble starting conversations with people we sit with at this restaurant. As we got talking, I mentioned that we were from Arizona. Two of the older kids (I'm guessing around 8 & 10 years old) had some questions about Arizona & Eddie talked to them about the Grand Canyon. We found out they were living in Tennessee, but had a vacation home in Quechee, VT (wouldn't that be nice). They come here for the summers. Well, the kids got finished eating & were starting to get restless, so they said goodbye & went to leave. Eddie & I were sitting there waiting for the waiter to bring us our check, but he came up to us & told us that "that lady has taken care of your dinner". WOW! This has never happen to us before from complete strangers. We didn't even exchange names (which now I wish we would have). We met up with her leaving the restaurant & of course thanked her for the meal, but telling her that she shouldn't have done that. She thanked us for letting them sit with us for dinner. We went outside & the kids got to see our Arizona license plate & their mom told them they could now go write in their book that they had seen an Arizona plate. This little experience made me realize that there are still people living in this world that are generous, kind & thankful people. Maybe there is hope after all. Eddie & I plan to spread this kindness as we are able to. It may not be at an expensive restaurant, but there are many ways to spread kindness. I think we just need to be reminded every now & then. P.S. I wish I could cook like this! I'd be in heaven.

Happy Father's Day!

Thanks Kids for making your Dad very happy this Father's Day!!!

Some of Eddie's children wanted to take him fishing for this Father's Day, so they bought him a fishing pole, paid for a one-day fishing license & off to the lake we went. We went to Sunset Lake in Brookfield, VT. It is better know for the floating bridge (picture is at the end) that crosses it. Eddie & I crossed this bridge in our car back in 1997 when we lived here very briefly - yes, I did get very homesick & we decided to return to Arizona.

Here's Eddie with his new fishing pole.

Brittany also joined in on the fun with her new fishing pole.


Here's Kobie & Cassie. Kobie really loves to go fishing, but his patience needs a little help.

Amber also got a new fishing pole. She's actually the only one who caught anything & it was only the bottom of the lake - but we told her it was a big fish that just got away!

Although I can't take credit for the picture (I took it off the Internet), this is the Floating Bridge. You can't drive over it anymore, but it's still fun to walk across & fish from.

Once again, thanks kids for making your Dad very happy this Father's Day!!!

He loves spending time with each one of you.

Our New Granddaughter

Amelia Rocker Smith was welcomed into our family on May 31, 2009. She was born at 4:31 AM, weighed in at 8 lbs & 12 ozs, & was 21.5 inches long.

Alissa went into labor during Brittany & Ben's wedding ceremony. She was a real trooper!!! She tried to stay for the dinner/reception, but just before dinner was served she decided that it was time to go home. They spent a few hours at home & arrived at the hospital around 1:00 am.

It didn't take long before Amelia was born.

Don't we make a cute little family!!!

Here I am with my grandma & grandpa.

I"ll have them wrapped around my little finger in no time at all.